Pandemic is the term used for any disease that rapidly spreads around the world, affecting large numbers of people and for which there is no natural immunity or immediately available treatment or prevention.

Pandemic influenza (pandemic flu) is a worldwide outbreak of flu caused by a new flu virus that people have not been exposed to before. Because our bodies would have no resistance to this new virus, it could spread quickly from person to person and cause serious illness.

Flu viruses have the ability to change or mutate, and any flu virus can mutate into a new form. Scientists are concerned that the H5N1 bird flu virus could mutate into a new form that easily infects people, spreads rapidly from person to person and causes serious illness. If this happens, we will not have a vaccine for this new virus and a pandemic could result.

The sypmtoms of pandemic flu are similar to those of seasonal flu, only they are usually more severe and can lead to more serious complications. Even young, healthy adults can get pandemic flu, and no one is immune. Seasonal flu is predictable and can be controlled. Pandemic flu cannot be predicted and it is very difficult to control.

No one can predict when, or if, a flu pandemic might occur. Previous influenza pandemics (such as the ones in 1918, 1957, and 1968) resulted in large numbers of illness and death. Many government organizations and businesses are develiping plans for coping with a pandemic since preparedness is the best strategy. You should also be prepared. (See "Contact Us" for more information.)